Prisoners Speak: Meditation as Survival & Stability in Prison

Many people speak about prisoners — how they are living and what they are thinking — but rarely do we get to hear directly from the men and women themselves. These voices offer that opportunity.

We wanted you to hear from the men and women behind bars that PMI has worked with over the years, unedited and without commentary.

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“In an institutional setting it is easy to get caught up in all of the negativity. If I did not have meditation I might not be here today. Peace of mind and spirit has allowed me to see this entire incarceration as a learning experience instead of a jail.”~James A., Jessup, MD

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“If I had never been turned on to [meditation], I would have most likely wound up dead in prison, or would have seriously hurt someone. I have quite a temper sometimes, but now I stop to focus on the breaths.”~Mark N., FL

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It wasn’t until later in life that I truly started to realize how much meditation can impact my life. For many years I was meditating for the wrong reasons. Only recently have I truly started to devote my time and concentration on meditation. You see I’m at the end of my rope. I’m in the S.H.U. [a term for a lockdown high security housing unit] and I almost lost all hope for life. Although this is not my first time I’ve come to realize that I can’t take this life style any longer. And I’m utterly alone with no one to talk to. So I have turned to meditation to keep myself sane. Also to take me away from this terrible place to free my mind, body and spirit. Even knowing all I have is one book to learn this inner peace, I believe I’m becoming better and better at meditation. So then I will say why mediation has saved what life I have left.

Sincerely, Jason

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“Meditation helps me keep a calm mind and to get calm when I’m riled up. Prison is an easy place to become angry, but that just makes your time hard to deal with so you get more pissed. Meditation helps me come to terms about my situation now.”~Subhuti A., Carlisle, IN

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As I sit here trying to meditate in this dungeon twelve by ten crack box cage with all types of noise coming from other incarcerated souls trying to distract my daily meditation i am determined to get this anger and rage out of my body. That's why I am learning how to keep focus on my meditation lesson, cause the other incarcerated souls see the change in my mindset by me not being so aggressive in this prison environment. Now I try to live a peaceful life, but these vicious incarcerated souls don't understand that I don't have the bitter mindset like they do for society cause we are lock down like bolts that secure screws for breaking the law cause since i began meditation i notice my inner self but some days it's hard to meditate in this abnormal atmosphere called prison. sometimes other incarcerated souls see my meditating and call me weak and I let there comments run off me like the rain that runs off a house. Thanks for meditation. It show's me the positive way of life.

Sincerely,

Terrace Love